Bye Bye Blockbuster

We have a monthly movie pass and a game pass to Blockbuster. We are allowed 3 movies out at a time and 1 game. We have a Blockbuster close to our house, only .2 miles away. Sometimes if it's a nice day we even walk there with the kids. Since having Abe, it has become my ritual to go everyday and pick a movie to watch during the evening and night feedings. If there is ever a problem with a DVD or game, it is nice that the store is so close. Today I found out that my local Blockbuster will be closing on June 15th! I am devastated.

What's a Hoodie?

While shopping for clothes online, I noticed quite a few tops now have hoods on them and are called "hoodie's". When I was growing up it was called a "sweatshirt", but whatever. This particular one had the description of being a "romantic hoodie". Romantic.....hoodie.......hmm, they just don't go together.
When I think of clothes with hoods, I think of jogging, boxing, rappers, or the unibomber. Definitly not romantic.



This one is called "Dress with Hood". Again, it's a DRESS with a HOOD on it. Why? Am I just not getting the fashion statement here? What is the point of having a hood on a dress? I guess you will be prepared if you need to go jogging in the rain, punch someone in the face, or bomb something.

Something Unexpected

On Monday afternoon, David and I decide to go to lunch and run a few errands beforehand. I needed to fax some papers so we went to the UPS Store. I ran in to use the fax while David waited in the car with Abe. I had only been in the store a minute and I thought I heard quite a few alarms outside. I looked out toward the parking lot but didn't see anything. About a minute later a man entered the store carrying a large duffle bag. He headed straight for the back of the store, walking very quickly and he seemed upset. I could hear him panting as he got close to me. The man went behind the counter. I glanced at the employees of the store it was clear they did not know him. Just then, about 4 or 5 policemen and a police dog came running in the store. One of the policemen jumped over the counter right next to where I was standing. I wanted to get out of the way of the police, but I was afraid if I moved I would be more in the way. The other police ran around the counter, including the dog. "Where did he go?!" they shouted. "Out the back door!" They all ran out with one of the UPS Store employees.


A lot of employees from nearby stores, like Blockbuster came running in to see what happened. It turns out that the man was in a stolen vehicle along with a woman and police had been chasing them for awhile. One policeman had actually got into an accident a few blocks away. The man in the stolen car drove up the curb in the Blockbuster shopping center and hit a parked car with someone sitting inside. The man and woman ran out of the car and the woman was caught right away. After the man exited the UPS Store he apparently ran through someone's house who lives behind there. The homeowner was interviewed on the news and said the house had several children inside at the time, but they were watching TV and the man ran right past them.


On the way to the UPS Store we were passed by a police car with its siren on. I mentioned to David that we don't normally see that kind of thing in Carrollton. I wondered what happened and where they were going. Little did I know I would have a front row seat!

The problem with PTA

I love PTA. I love being an officer and being part of the board. That is where you get all the insider information about the school. You get to see how decisions are made and be a part of it. Information given out at a PTA board meeting is oftentimes never repeated outside the meeting. I supposed that might be where PTA gets it's reputation for being "cliquey". I don't consider this a problem though since everyone has an opportunity to serve as an officer or chairman. What is a problem is that most parents at the school don't care about PTA business. Why? Because it's kind of boring. Most people don't care about discussing budgets, fundraisers and bylaws.

Tonight my son Ben was in a show at the school singing international songs. This was a show that the 3rd and 4th graders were performing. All the 3rd and 4th grade parents were there waiting. I had to stand at the back with Ada, Tommy and Abe due to inadequate seating. But before the show could start there was a PTA meeting. We voted in the new officers for next year. I watched the parents faces as the voting occured. Several seemed annoyed that we had to vote so much. Especially those with small children seemed to just want to "get on with the show".

As much as I like and respect PTA I always feel tricked when there is a meeting like that before a show. Is the show just a ruse to get us to the meeting? I recall the plays and shows I was in as a child and how happy and proud I was to be a part of it. Did my parents have to sit through a PTA meeting before seeing the show? I don't think so, but I'm not sure.

Thinking back on events attended my 6 years so far at this school I can only think of two events that were fun and I was glad I went. These are the Fall Carnival and the Ice Cream Social. Hmm, what is different about these events? There is no PTA meeting.